“If I did something wrong,” Fern murmured. Her mother nodded and Fern gave a tight nod before walking over to the grand piano set to the side of the room. She did not lay out music, but simply sat and began to play a tranquil sonata that he identified as Brahms. Her music was soft, unobtrusive, and she blended into the background, essentially removing herself from the small party. The two couples sat on low sofas with Violet and Aunt Margaret in nearby chairs, Alex attempting to sip his port as his stomach turned increasingly sour.
“I knew you were a pianist, but I didn’t know your sister played as well,” Alex said to Rose as they sat down.
Her brows furrowed. “Pardon?” She glanced over at Fern before turning back and answering without meeting his gaze. “Oh, I play a bit, but not much these days, I’ve been quite busy.”
“Oh,” Alex replied in confusion. Their discussion about her music on the night of the ball rushed into his memory. “I thought you enjoyed piano and played it often?”
“I thought I heard Rose practicing last week,” Violet said.
Aunt Margaret scoffed. “It’s best we let Fern play, Rose commits unspeakable crimes against music when she plays.”
But Rose had told him how important music was to her. An unpleasant thought began turning in the back of his mind, but Lady Redborne interrupted his thoughts.
“Mr. Carroway, I understand you have big plans for after the School of Economics?”
Alex cleared his throat, speaking up over the increasing volume of the piano. “I hope to enter the foreign service, my lady, perhaps as an economist or in diplomacy.” He noted that Fern’s fingers had paused on the piano, letting a thick silence fall over the room.
“Very impressive, lad,” Lord Redborne crowed. “I have been harboring some interest in becoming involved in government service myself, I’m becoming rather bored as I approach my old age.”
Alex hazarded a glance towards Fern as she shifted into a new piece with a look of fierce determination on her face.
“Fern, darling, perhaps something a bit more sedate?” Lady Redborne called, but Fern made no change to her selection. It appeared as though she had not even heard her mother’s suggestion. As the dynamics increased in intensity, her eyes closed, her body moving as though in a trance.
“Would you be interested in a foreign posting?” Lord Redborne said, leaning towards Alex to be heard.
“Pardon?” Alex asked, leaning in even further and tilting his ear.
“Is there any more of this sherry?” Aunt Margaret called, her voice growing louder with each glass. “It’s quite excellent.”
Violet got to her feet. “I’ll find Salisbury,” she said as she left the room.
“Fern, please—” Lady Redborne implored. Fern’s music increased in pace, her fingers moving at a breathtaking speed.
“Perhaps we should go back to the parlor—” Rose suggested with a strained smile. Both of the dogs began to whine.
“Salisbury!” Lady Margaret cried.
“Fern!“ Lord Redborne’s bellow made everyone in the room start. Fern’s hands flew off the keys, and she stared at her father with red cheeks and eyes as wide as saucers. “Stop that this instant!”
Fern stood with her eyes blazing. “You asked me to play, so I played. I’m not the bloody entertainment.”
“Fern!” her parents cried in unison as her aunt gasped. Fern ignored them and stormed from the room.
As she reached the doorway, she stopped, turned on her heel, and walked up to Alex. She curtsied, never breaking eye contact. “I don’t believe I greeted you properly. It’s lovely to see you, Mr. Carroway. I hope you have a pleasant evening.” She turned again, head held high, and marched from the room. Moments later, the windows of the music room shook with the force of her door slamming.
Lord Redborne turned to Alex, his jaw set and face reddened. “Perhaps it is best if you were to go.”
He stood quickly, his eyes shooting to Rose. “Yes, of course. Thank you so much for your hospitality.”
“I’ll see him out,” Rose said, leading him to the hallway where Salisbury waited with his coat and hat, wearing a tight expression. A storm was blowing in as they stepped outside to wait for the carriage, the wind whipping around them as they stood, sharp droplets of rain pinging on the stones at their feet. “I’m so sorry about my sister’s behavior,” she said, frowning.
Alex bit the inside of his cheek. He didn’t want to leave, but it wasn’t because of Rose. “Is she all right?”
Rose sighed. “She can be…difficult. A lot of the time, really. We try to make things easier for her because so many things upset her, but…” She trailed off, emotions clouding her face.
“I’m sorry.” He squeezed Rose’s hand. He knew Fern could be challenging, but to treat her like a disobedient child? Dread had settled deep in his chest during the evening, becoming overwhelming, and he dropped his hand from hers to clench his fists at his side.
Fern deserved better than this. It was no wonder she wanted an escape from the world, the opportunity to shine in her own right at Oxford. For a brief moment, he wanted to chase her to her room and hold her in his arms, assuring her he understood and would help her when no one else would.
